Climate Solutions and Economic Opportunities

Minnesota’s New Climate Action Plan

Learn how our State can achieve it’s goal to reduce CO2 by 80% while strengthening our Economy.

Here are our notes from the July 20, 2016 launch of the MN EQB’s Climate Solutions and Economic Opportunities action plan with key initiatives from all state agencies and how your community can do its part to achieve these goals and benefits.

Key Themes from the MN State Climate Action Plan:

Expand clean energy on our electric grid –explore how to increase the MN Renewable Energy Standard from 25% to 50%

Presentation Highlights

Overview

The Climate Subcommittee of the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) is leading a project to evaluate a variety of strategies for their potential to grow our economy and reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change, an initiative known as Climate Solutions and Economic Opportunities (CSEO).

The goal of the project was to provide multiple opportunities for stakeholders to share ideas, information, and perspectives that will help to inform decisions about potential near-term (2015 – 2030) actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental Initiative worked on behalf of the Subcommittee to engage stakeholders in this effort. A series of large informational events and smaller working sessions were held between November 2014 and February 2015.

The State and the Center for Climate Strategies used the well regarded REMI model to study to future economic impacts of MN implementing strategies to achieve State Climate Reduction Goals.CSEO Policy Option Documentation

Most of the policy options are cost negative – including investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency

Investing in efficiency and renewable energy will also create new jobs

Welcome and Introduction to the CSEO report by Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith

Minnesota has made significant strides to address climate change. Renewable energy now accounts for 21% of the Minnesota’s in-state electricity generation, up from 4% in 2000. Wind energy alone provides over 17% of our state’s electricity – equal to the total electricity use in one in six homes, businesses, and community institutions.

Despite this progress, we missed our 2015 greenhouse gas emission targets and will miss the 2025 goal without additional work. Minnesota needs bold action to meet these goals and secure the environmental, health, and economic benefits of tackling climate change . This report provides the foundation for state climate planning. We need to work together to transform plans into actions.

The need for action is clear: Minnesota is already feeling the impacts of climate change. We have experienced four 1,000-year rainfalls since 2002.

We have watched our spruce, fir, aspen, and birch forests retreat northward. And air pollution related to greenhouse gas emissions annually cost us more than $800 million in increased health care costs.

Addressing climate change also has the potential to grow our economy. By aggressively investing in climate policies, Minnesota could add 25,000 new jobs and generate more than $2 billion in additional wages during the next 15 years.

To achieve these results, Minnesota needs clean energy policies that have an immediate impact on reducing emissions from our homes, buildings, and industries. We also need long-term strategies to transform our communities and their transportation systems to reduce our use of gasoline.

We also must protect and increase the carbon stored in our wetlands, forests, and agricultural lands. These actions will not only help us address climate change, but will also support habitat and water quality, benefiting public health and wildlife. Working together, we can take steps that protect the environment, improve our health, and grow our economy.

Fall 2016 – Resilient Cities Clusters

In October of 2016, the Alliance for Sustainability will work closely with the MN EQB, county and nonprofit resource partners, watershed districts, and utilities to support Resilient Cities Clusters of 5 or more cities in Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey& Washington County. City staff & commission volunteers will meet at an October launch with EQB staff and, in January, will share their draft Comprehensive Plans.

Find practical resources for your city to include resilience themes into your Comprehensive Plan, including:

Mitigation – Conserving energy and moving toward renewable energy

Adaptation – Helping your city infrastructure and residents be ready for extreme weather

This spring 350 city staff, elected leaders, commission and community volunteers from 73 cities and townships joined us to find practical resources to include energy, resilience, active living, healthy food access and equity in their comprehensive plans.